Chill-out at Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar

 

Every now and then, it is good to withdraw from the maddening crowd in the mall and chill out in a cosy cafe for a leisurely evening meal, paired with chilled wine.

 

The team at work behind the bar at
Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar

For this experience, I was back at Hyatt Place in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru to discover what Al Dente Pasta and Wine Bar has to offer.

 

As its name suggests, this café by the swimming pool, linked to On Seven Bistro on Level Seven, serves freshly prepared pasta for diners to savour with a choice of wine and chilled drinks.

 

After a busy day, I welcomed some help from knowledgeable serving staff who were on hand to suggest which appetizers and main course items to order from the menu.

 

A crispy slice from a serving of
Bruschetta Al Pomodoro E Basalico

Azlan proudly announced that their sourdough breads were prepared in-house and that the meat used to make Polpette, juicy Italian meatballs, was Angus beef created with 70% tender meat with 30% fat.

 

With this in mind, it was not difficult to decide on a choice of two appetizers from among the menu items that offered soup, salad or starter dishes and mains.

 

While the menu was small, I was pleased – when I tasted the dishes – that the quality ingredients were fresh and prepared with serious consideration for the right balance to present rich flavours that will please the palates of pasta fans.

 

Juicy meatballs in the
serving of Polpette

Soon after our meal order was placed, I reminded the staff NOT to serve our choice of White wine yet. This was because I wanted the wine to stay chilled and be served only when our dish orders were already at our table.

 

One serving of Bruschetta Al Pomodoro E Basilico comprised two pieces of crisp, toasted artisan ciabatta bread, topped with a vibrant mix of sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and fragrant oregano and a touch of garlic.

 

This, my friend and I agreed, was best savoured by using our hands to firmly hold the crispy slice of bread and to sink our teeth in without toppling off its toppings.

 

It was both satisfying to hear the crispy crunch of the toasted bread and taste the rich flavours of fresh ingredients, a blend that worked well to whet our appetites for more.

 

A subtle spicy flavour in this
serving of Spaghetti Zucchini, 
Gameri E Calamari

The highly recommended dish of Polpette was made up of three large meatballs served in a bowl with two slices of garlic-infused bruschetta on the side.

 

Simmered in a rich tomato sauce, the meatballs were all that it was touted to be –

tender and tasty – savoured with a bite of the crunchy bread, a perfect foil of tastes and textures.

 

Just before the main course items arrived, our orders of chilled White wine were served to the table. Its chilled, crisp flavour paired perfectly with the seafood pasta dish, Spaghetti Zucchini, Gamberi E Calamari.

 

This was essentially a pasta dish where spaghetti – prepared al dente – was tossed with tender whole prawns, squid rings and slices of fresh zucchini, flavoured by garlic chili, Italian parsley, cherry tomatoes and a touch of lemon zest.

 

Cutting through the layers
of pasta in Lasagna Al Forno

I was often wary of how the taste of tomatoes in lasagna may be overpowering but at my first taste of a bite of Lasagna Al Forno, I was pleased that the rich Bolognese sauce was just right as it did not overshadow the creamy bechamel sauce and blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. 

 

Having split the dishes between us, my friend and I sat back, feeling quite comfortably full and pleased with ourselves because we have wisely kept some space to savour the desserts.

 

We both agreed that a meal should always end sweetly, so we have paced ourselves throughout our leisurely meal – sips of wine and nibbles of food – with enough space left to indulge in the servings of Panna Cotta and Italian cheesecake, Tiramisu.

 

The silky Panna Cotta was topped with slices of fresh strawberries and blue berries while the Tiramisu was made with layers of expresso-soaked sponge fingers, creamy mascarpone cheese, dusted with a blanket of cocoa powder.

 

Ending our meal sweetly with
a dessert of Tiramisu

The cosy ambience, soothing soundtracks and the attentive, yet unobtrusive service, all played a part in making our leisurely meal, a much-desired, chill-out evening of quiet conversation over comfort food and chilled wine.

 

Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar is located on the Lobby Level of Hyatt Place Johor Bahru within Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru. Take advantage of the Opening Promotion from 5pm to 10pm of Buy-One-Get-One-Free from the menu, only for a limited time.

 

For diners who are driving to Paradigm Mall, please park at the hotel carpark located on Level Six and enter through the elevator lobby dedicated to the hotel. Take the elevator to Level Seven, the Lobby Level of the hotel.

 

Hyatt Place Johor Bahru is located in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Jalan Mewah Ria 2, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor. Tel: +607 – 291 1234. For more info, visit official pages for Hyatt Place Johor Bahru on Facebook and Instagram.